31 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

The pretty-girl duo Machine Birds of Norway's finest west coast city Bergen are back with a lovely little surprise for you all: the brand new pop harmony "Time", which you can have your very first listen to below. The tune is just what to expect from these two young, promising musicians: sweet and catchy, but just enough to avoid falling too much into the pile of 'sugary indie pop' (which we tend to have a lot of here in Norway) — at the same time as their mysterious, melancholic Cocteau Twins-influenced sound is lurking somewhere in the background.
The single will be released via Nabovarsel on September 19th. Download a few more free tunes right here.
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The pretty-girl duo Machine Birds of Norway's finest west coast city Bergen are back with a lovely little surprise for you all: the brand new pop harmony "Time", which you can have your very first listen to below. The tune is just what to expect from these two young, promising musicians: sweet and catchy, but just enough to avoid falling too much into the pile of 'sugary indie pop' (which we tend to have a lot of here in Norway) — at the same time as their mysterious, melancholic Cocteau Twins-influenced sound is lurking somewhere in the background.
The single will be released via Nabovarsel on September 19th. Download a few more free tunes right here.

30 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Brought to us by some of the finest folks behind the leading UK music site The Line Of Best Fit and Nordic Music Export, Ja Ja Ja is back for good, bringing up the most interesting emerging names from the Nordic music scene, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. We're quite stoked to announce that NFOP is one of the official contributors for Ja Ja Ja, together with appearances from other super blogs such as No Modest Bear, Drowned In Sound, The Quietus and Fake DIY.
Every month, Ja Ja Ja will hand-pick some of the hottest emerging names from the different Nordic countries for an exclusive night of superb music and northern vibes at The Lexington in London, which all you Londoners really shouldn't miss.
Go check it out!
You can also follow Ja Ja Ja on Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.

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Brought to us by some of the finest folks behind the leading UK music site The Line Of Best Fit and Nordic Music Export, Ja Ja Ja is back for good, bringing up the most interesting emerging names from the Nordic music scene, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. We're quite stoked to announce that NFOP is one of the official contributors for Ja Ja Ja, together with appearances from other super blogs such as No Modest Bear, Drowned In Sound, The Quietus and Fake DIY.
Every month, Ja Ja Ja will hand-pick some of the hottest emerging names from the different Nordic countries for an exclusive night of superb music and northern vibes at The Lexington in London, which all you Londoners really shouldn't miss.
Go check it out!
You can also follow Ja Ja Ja on Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.

29 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

I was literally blown away already after the first listen of The-Drum's "Omar" which dropped in my inbox only a few minutes ago; a bass-heavy, R'n'B infused psychedelic trip of a track, spiced up with echo-like vocal samples and heavy dubstep influences, a little similar to our own rising super-duo Purity Ring, in a way. After a quick research, The-Drum turns out to be made up by Brandon and Jeremiah of Chicago, and have apparently been uploading tracks on their soundcloud page since March, but seemingly been missed out by us somehow, until today.
Head over here to snatch a couple more free tunes. According to their page, they're releasing their first (?) EP Heavy Liquid in early September. Stay tuned!
The-Drum - OmarThe-Drum - Falling

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I was literally blown away already after the first listen of The-Drum's "Omar" which dropped in my inbox only a few minutes ago; a bass-heavy, R'n'B infused psychedelic trip of a track, spiced up with echo-like vocal samples and heavy dubstep influences, a little similar to our own rising super-duo Purity Ring, in a way. After a quick research, The-Drum turns out to be made up by Brandon and Jeremiah of Chicago, and have apparently been uploading tracks on their soundcloud page since March, but seemingly been missed out by us somehow, until today.
Head over here to snatch a couple more free tunes. According to their page, they're releasing their first (?) EP Heavy Liquid in early September. Stay tuned!
The-Drum - OmarThe-Drum - Falling

29 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Together with our friends at How Is Annie, we're proud to present two of the finest Nordic outfits around, one which also happens to be one of my very own favourites within the post-rock universe: none other than the Gothenburg based five-piece Immanu El. We've also managed to get our hands on Oslo's own indie pop favourite The Little Hands Of Asphalt, also known as the side project of Monanzo vocalist Sjur Lyseid. The whole thing will take place at the Revolver here in Oslo (which is therefore more likely to appeal to our Norwegian readers than the majority of our "fanbase", if such a thing even exist). However, if you happen to be in Oslo on November 4th, don't allow yourself to miss this beautiful little happening out.
If this alone wasn't enough though, Immanu El also have an upcoming album entitled In Passage in the oven, which is supposedly to hit the shelves in October, following their critically acclaimed albums They'll Come, They Come (2007) and Moen (2009).
In the meantime (while waiting for the fall to fully kick in), here's something to get you in the mood:
RVSP here.
Poster design/photography: Tonje Thilesen.

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Together with our friends at How Is Annie, we're proud to present two of the finest Nordic outfits around, one which also happens to be one of my very own favourites within the post-rock universe: none other than the Gothenburg based five-piece Immanu El. We've also managed to get our hands on Oslo's own indie pop favourite The Little Hands Of Asphalt, also known as the side project of Monanzo vocalist Sjur Lyseid. The whole thing will take place at the Revolver here in Oslo (which is therefore more likely to appeal to our Norwegian readers than the majority of our "fanbase", if such a thing even exist). However, if you happen to be in Oslo on November 4th, don't allow yourself to miss this beautiful little happening out.
If this alone wasn't enough though, Immanu El also have an upcoming album entitled In Passage in the oven, which is supposedly to hit the shelves in October, following their critically acclaimed albums They'll Come, They Come (2007) and Moen (2009).
In the meantime (while waiting for the fall to fully kick in), here's something to get you in the mood:
RVSP here.
Poster design/photography: Tonje Thilesen.

28 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Three years after grabbing the Irish album of the year award at the Choice Music Prize, Dublin based electronic pop outfit Jape is back with their fourth studio album entitled Ocean of Frequency. We were lucky enough to get an exclusive premiere of the very first peak at the album which is due to September 30th, via our friends at music/is/for/losers, whom also happen to have a Sun Glitters EP in the oven for us later this fall.
"The Oldest Mind" is an euphoric and glitchy harmony particularly fitted for late summer nights in the city, and I can't help but missing walks along the never-empty, rural streets of Berlin, with no particular destination in mind.
The first single from the album, "You Make The Love" will be released September 23d over at music/is/for/losers.
Read more →

Three years after grabbing the Irish album of the year award at the Choice Music Prize, Dublin based electronic pop outfit Jape is back with their fourth studio album entitled Ocean of Frequency. We were lucky enough to get an exclusive premiere of the very first peak at the album which is due to September 30th, via our friends at music/is/for/losers, whom also happen to have a Sun Glitters EP in the oven for us later this fall.
"The Oldest Mind" is an euphoric and glitchy harmony particularly fitted for late summer nights in the city, and I can't help but missing walks along the never-empty, rural streets of Berlin, with no particular destination in mind.
The first single from the album, "You Make The Love" will be released September 23d over at music/is/for/losers.

27 Aug 2011 — Tonje Thilesen

Let your thoughts drift away into the open with the angelic sound of East London five-piece Dark Captain, whom recently released the first single on their upcoming second album Dead Legs & Alibis. Mixing folktronica with melancholic pop harmonies (and even throwing in some traces of soft rock), Dark Captain can easily be compared with the likes of Thomas Dybdahl or King Creosote, to mention a few.
The album is out on LOAF recordings on October 17th, and can be pre-ordered right here. You can also download "Submarines" and "Bellcurve" for free via their soundcloud page.
Dark Captain - SubmarinesDark Captain - BellcurveRead more →
Let your thoughts drift away into the open with the angelic sound of East London five-piece Dark Captain, whom recently released the first single on their upcoming second album Dead Legs & Alibis. Mixing folktronica with melancholic pop harmonies (and even throwing in some traces of soft rock), Dark Captain can easily be compared with the likes of Thomas Dybdahl or King Creosote, to mention a few.
The album is out on LOAF recordings on October 17th, and can be pre-ordered right here. You can also download "Submarines" and "Bellcurve" for free via their soundcloud page.
Dark Captain - SubmarinesDark Captain - Bellcurve

26 Aug 2011 — Henning Lahmann

To get this out of the way, I am aware that there are approximately a gazillion things you could - and perhaps should - accuse Topographic Maps' music of: for being a rip-off; for being about two years too late; even for making accusations all too easy (that cover! that track title!). But damn, if you're about three minutes into the eleven and a half minute banger Hypnotropix Blues, this sick 80s TV series theme throwback unfolds its irresistible, mesmerizing qualities and becomes a dope trip through some sticky urban jungle with absolutely no way out whatsoever, and maybe that's all I need today.
Topographic Maps - Hypnotropix BluesRead more →
To get this out of the way, I am aware that there are approximately a gazillion things you could - and perhaps should - accuse Topographic Maps' music of: for being a rip-off; for being about two years too late; even for making accusations all too easy (that cover! that track title!). But damn, if you're about three minutes into the eleven and a half minute banger Hypnotropix Blues, this sick 80s TV series theme throwback unfolds its irresistible, mesmerizing qualities and becomes a dope trip through some sticky urban jungle with absolutely no way out whatsoever, and maybe that's all I need today.
Topographic Maps - Hypnotropix Blues